Judges 14:9 - He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went. He came to his father and mother, and gave to them, and they ate, but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Judges 14:9" mean?
This verse from Judges 14:9 is part of the Samson narrative, specifically the riddle he poses to the Philistines. Let's break down its meaning:
"He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went.": Samson, after killing the lion (Judges 14:6) and later returning to find a swarm of bees and honey in its carcass (Judges 14:8), collects the honey. He eats it as he walks, indicating his hunger and perhaps a certain nonchalance about the unusual situation.
"He came to his father and mother, and gave to them, and they ate, but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body.": This is the key part. Several aspects are important:
Sharing with parents: Sharing food with his parents was a normal and expected act, highlighting Samson's connection to his family despite his often individualistic actions.
Omission of the Source: The crucial detail is that he deliberately withheld the information about the honey's origin – the lion's carcass. This is significant because:
Impurity: Touching a dead animal, especially a carcass, would have been considered ritually unclean according to Jewish law (Leviticus 5:2, 11:24-40). Samson, as a Nazirite (Judges 13:5), had vows of separation, including abstaining from contact with dead bodies.
Testing Boundaries: Some scholars suggest this act reveals Samson's tendency to test the boundaries of what is permissible, both in religious and social contexts. He breaks a possible ritual taboo, yet keeps the fact secret.
Foundation of the Riddle: This act of secrecy lays the groundwork for the riddle he presents to the Philistines (Judges 14:12-18). The riddle, "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness," is based on his experience with the lion and the honey. The fact that the riddle is unsolvable without knowing the backstory is key.
In summary, the verse reveals Samson's awareness of impurity and his conscious choice to conceal it from his parents, while still sharing the honey with them. This act is crucial for understanding Samson's character and for setting up the central riddle in the narrative. It highlights his secret knowledge and his willingness to bend or break societal and religious norms, leading to conflict with the Philistines.
Judges 14:9 - He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went. He came to his father and mother, and gave to them, and they ate, but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body.
What does "Judges 14:9" mean?
This verse from Judges 14:9 is part of the Samson narrative, specifically the riddle he poses to the Philistines. Let's break down its meaning:
"He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went.": Samson, after killing the lion (Judges 14:6) and later returning to find a swarm of bees and honey in its carcass (Judges 14:8), collects the honey. He eats it as he walks, indicating his hunger and perhaps a certain nonchalance about the unusual situation.
"He came to his father and mother, and gave to them, and they ate, but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body.": This is the key part. Several aspects are important:
Sharing with parents: Sharing food with his parents was a normal and expected act, highlighting Samson's connection to his family despite his often individualistic actions.
Omission of the Source: The crucial detail is that he deliberately withheld the information about the honey's origin – the lion's carcass. This is significant because:
Impurity: Touching a dead animal, especially a carcass, would have been considered ritually unclean according to Jewish law (Leviticus 5:2, 11:24-40). Samson, as a Nazirite (Judges 13:5), had vows of separation, including abstaining from contact with dead bodies.
Testing Boundaries: Some scholars suggest this act reveals Samson's tendency to test the boundaries of what is permissible, both in religious and social contexts. He breaks a possible ritual taboo, yet keeps the fact secret.
Foundation of the Riddle: This act of secrecy lays the groundwork for the riddle he presents to the Philistines (Judges 14:12-18). The riddle, "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness," is based on his experience with the lion and the honey. The fact that the riddle is unsolvable without knowing the backstory is key.
In summary, the verse reveals Samson's awareness of impurity and his conscious choice to conceal it from his parents, while still sharing the honey with them. This act is crucial for understanding Samson's character and for setting up the central riddle in the narrative. It highlights his secret knowledge and his willingness to bend or break societal and religious norms, leading to conflict with the Philistines.